Buzz
Honda collaborates with GM and Cruise (GM's autonomous vehicle technology company) to launch a robot taxi service in Japan by 2026. Japan, the second market targeted by Cruise after Dubai, faces a growing workforce shortage due to an aging population, prompting the emergence of alternative technologies.
Currently, Cruise's self-driving taxi fleet is operational in several U.S. cities and plans to expand further. The partnership between GM and Honda will last for a minimum of 3 years, involving various agreements. Notably, GM will work with the Japanese automaker to jointly design the Cruise Origin - an affordable autonomous vehicle intended for the self-driving taxi fleet, set to deploy in the U.S. in the near future.
Each Cruise Origin can comfortably seat up to 6 passengers, providing a spacious and convenient environment for relaxation during the ride. Similar to other services, users can book a ride through the app with a pre-set route, and the vehicle will autonomously arrive at the pick-up location and drop off at the destination.While the concept sounds enticing, like other companies venturing into autonomous vehicles, Cruise faces challenges with their active fleet. Authorities express concerns about the safety of this taxi team when officially put into operation. In the U.S., Cruise vehicles have been involved in incidents such as colliding with an ambulance, causing injuries to passengers, and hitting pedestrians. This led the company to reduce the number of active vehicles on the road for investigation and risk mitigation.
